Skin disinfectant containing polyoxyethylene alkyl phenol, calcium chelating agent and either an organic sulfate or sulfonate salt



United States Patent Carl Henry Davis, Coral Gables, and Constantine G.Grand, Miami, Fla., assignors to Carlen Corporation, Miami, Fla., acorporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application April 13, 1954 SerialNo. 422,970

6 Claims. (Cl. 16758) The present invention relates to germicides.

It is an object of the invention to provide a composition that exhibitshigh germicidal activity.

A specific object is to provide an improved trichomonicide.

Another object is to provide a concentrated composition that can bedispensed and subsequently diluted with water at the time of use.

A further object is to provide a process for disinfecting surfaces.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the course of thefollowing description.

The general approach to the destruction of disease organisms is to seeka specific toxic agent which can be employed at an effective levelwithout undesirable side effects. Most of the microbicides are highlytoxic, irritating or allergenic to higher forms of life as well and aretherefore limited as to usable concentrations and frequency of use.

There are also many cases in which pathogenic microbes are difficult tokill in their host because of the existence of natural conditionsprotective to the pathogenie organism at the, site of infection. Anoutstanding example of this is found in the vaginitis caused byTrichomonas vaginalis Donn. The irregular surface of the vaginal andcervical mucosa and the secretions normally present protect theorganisms from attack by conventional germicides to such an extent thatthe infections stubbornly resist control. The usual treatment of thisvaginitis is particularly diflicult since it requires frequent andprolonged disinfection by skilled professional personnel.

The germicidal composition of this invention has proven exceptionallyeffective in the treatment of trichomonad infections and is likewiseuseful against other microbic life. It has shown no evidence ofundesirable side effects under conditions of use.

It has been discovered, in accordance with the invention, that thecombination of a polyoxyethylene alkyl phenol non-ionic detergent, anactive wetting agent, and a substituted amino acetic acid, chelating orsequestering agent for calcium produces a germicide. that exhibitsexceptional utility in achieving the above named objects. The threecomponents are readily soluble or dispersible in water and arecompatible through wide ranges of proportions and at various dilutions.

The non-ionic detergent is a member of the class of polyoxyethylenealkyl phenols containing a lipophilic hydrocarbon group of at least 12carbon atoms and at least 6 oxyethylene groups per lipophilichydrocarbon radical, the lipophilic hydrocarbon and polyoxyethylenechain length being balanced to provide good detergency. Such compoundsare well known in the detergent field. The preferred member of thisclass for, the purpose of this invention is a commercial polyoxyethylenenonyl phenol containing about 10 oxyethylene groups per mol. Otherdetergents that can be used are other polyoxyethylene alkyl phenols suchas those derived from octyl, decyl or dodecyl phenol. V

The Wetting agent component used in the germicide is one of the salts ofan organic sulfate or sulfonate that have strong Wetting properties. Themembers of this class are of several chemical types well recognized inthe surface active agent art. The preferred wetting agent is sodiumdioctyl sulfosuccinate. Others that can be used are the ammonium, alkalimetal, lower alkylamine and alkylolamine salts of alkyl aryl sulfonicacids, for example, the isopropanolamine salt of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid or the triethanolamine salt of alkyl aryl sulfonate sold byAtlantic Refining Company under the trade mark Ultra Wet 60L. Furthersuitable wetting agents are the corresponding salts of fatty alcoholsulfuric acid esters, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate ortriethanolamine lauryl sulfate. Other wetting agents of the type ofsalts of dialkyl sulfosuccinic acid may also be used in place of thepreferred sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate.

The calcium chelating or sequestering agent comprising the thirdessential component of the germicide is one of the substituted aminoacetic acids of commerce which are available as chelating agents in theform of their alkali metal salts. The preferred chelating agent isethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, particularly the tetra sodium saltof commerce.

The preferred composition at the present time has the followingcomposition.

The composition is compounded by first preparing a 12% aqueous solutionof the ethylene diamine tetraacetate. This solution is added to thepolyoxyethylene nonyl phenol, which is liquid, after which the sodiumdioctyl sulfosuccinate solution is added. Finally the water is added tomake up the indicated volume. DIStlII-r ed water is employed throughout.After thorough mixing the product is a clear solution with a slightstraw color.

This composition at a dilution in tap water of one part in 250, in vitrokills T. vaginalis under 30 seconds.

As the wetting agent in the compositions of the examples there can beused sodium lauryl sulfate or amine salts of alkyl aryl sulfonic acidsin amounts correspond ing to the sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate. Mixturesof these wetting agents can be employed if desired.

The advantage of the three component composition is illustrated by thefollowing comparison. The tests were 48 hour culture with two drops oftestsolution and checking under phase contrast microscope. The 'underalkyl phenol hydrocarbon radical wherein the alkyl group contains from 6to 12 carbon atoms, said detergent containing at least 6 oxyethylenegroups per lipophilic alkyl phenol hydrocarbon radical, the lipophilichydrocarbon and polyoxyethylene chain length being balanced to providegood detergency, a wetting agent selected from the group consisting ofsalts of organic sulfates and organic sulfonates and a calcium chelatingagent which is an Composition Tested v H Test Test No. I I Dilution Killtime sodium dioctyl sulfosucethylene diamine tetraacepolyoxyethylenenonyl 1 cinate, 25% aq'. solution tate Na, 12% aqosolution phenol I AZparts/IOO parts water 0. 1/270 over 11:5 min- 11 es. R n 50 parts/100parts water 1/270 Do. (7 n l/270 Do. 1),. 0- I 50 parts/100 parts water'80 seconds; 15.; 2 parts/100 parts water do 0 over minutes. F. n n Iparts/100 parts water 1/270 Do. G "do 50 parts/100 parts water do 1/270under 30 seconds.

NOTES Test A, at 3 minutes organisms swollen but none dead. No furtherchange at end of 6 minutes. Some still alive at end of 15 minutes.

Test B, all flagellates became spherical under 3 minutes.

Test C,'some.flagellates alive after 15 minutes with very littleevidence of change of form. 'I est D, most flagellates appeared deadwithin one minute but some alive to 80 seconds.

spheres.

Occasional organism alive after 15 minutes.

Those that died became round first. After death they appeared asgranular Test E, all flagellates became round within 3 minutes. Thosethat died were swollen but did not disintegrate. A few were alive at endof 15 minutes Test F most flagellated dead in 10 minutes but some aliveafter 15 minutes.

The relative proportions of the detergent, wetting and chelating agentscan be varied within considerable limits. The detergent. should be themajor component; On a solids basis it is preferably 70 to 90% of thecomposition. The chelating agent is preferably 5 to 15% of thecomposition. The wetting agent is needed only in small amount'and largerquantities appear to have no advantage. The wetting agent shouldpreferably constitute from 0.5 to 5% of the solids of the composition].It will be understood that for diiferent uses and different methods ofdispensing and application variations in these proportions may beadvisable.

The compositions of the invention are particularly useful as humantrichomonicides. They are, however, useful also against other organismsthat infect the human body. They may also be useful in veterinarymedicine against trichomonads, such as T. foetus, and other organismsencountered in animals.

The usefulness of the compositions may be extended by employing them inconjunction with, for example, fungicides like thymol, and germicidalagents like acrifiavine. 'In conventional manner, the products can becolored and/ or perfumed if desired. I

u The invention also contemplates the process of disinfecting s urfacesby contacting them with aqueous solutions of the above describedcompositions. This process isemployed, for example, in the treatment ofvaginitis by douching with a dilution of one part of the above presentlypreferred composition in 250 parts of Water. The process is alsoemployed in preparing a skin area priortofmaking a surgical incision inwhich case the arcais scrubbedwith a higher concentration of thecomposition. The foregoing are all examples of topical application ofthe compositions of the invention.

Many variations of the compositions and processes described will beapparent to those skilled in this art.

What is claimed is: I

I 1.. An aqueous germicidal composition containing asess'entialingredients a non-ionic detergent of the class of alkali metalsalt of an amino acetic acid, said detergent, Wetting agent andchelating agent being present respectively in thIe following proportionsby weight on a dry basis: 7090%;' 0.55% and 5 -15%. ff

2. The germicidal composition recited in claim 1 where;- in. saidcalcium chelating agent is a sodium salt' of' an amino acetic acid. I i3. The germicidal composition recited in claim'l wherein said calciumchelating agent is ethylene' diam'ine tetraacetic acid sodium salt. Y I*5 I '4.".The processflof'dis infecting a skin surface which comprisescontacting the surface with a dilute solution in 'water of an non-ionicdetergent of the class of poly oxyeth'ylene alkyl phenols containingalipophilic "alkyl phenol hydrocarbon radical wherein the alkyl groupcon tains from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, said detergent'contain ing' atleast 6' oxyethyl'ene groups per lipophilicfalkyl phenol hydrocarbonradical, the lipophilic hydrocarbon and polyoxyethylene chain lengthbeing balancedto pro? vide" good' detergency, a wetting agentselectedfro'mlthe group consisting of salts of organic sulfates andorganic sulfonates and a calcium chelating agentvvhich' is an alkalimetal salt of an amino acetic acid, said detergent, wetting agent andchelating agent being present respec tively in the following proportionsby weight on. basis: 70-90%; 0:55%; and 5l5%.

5. A germicidal concentrate consisting essentially of a compatiblesolution in water of polyoxyethylenefnonyl phenol containing an averageof 10 oxyethylen'e groups per mol, ethylene diamine-tetra-aceti'c acidsodiurni salt, and sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinatc, in the proportions ona dry basis of from 70 to of said polyoxyethylene nonyl phenol, from 5to 15 of said ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid sodium'salt, and from0.5 to 5% of said sulfosuccinate. 3 H I I 6. A germicidal concentrateconsisting of an aqueous solution of polyoxyethylenenonyl phenolcontaining an average of 10 oxyethylene groups per mol, sodiumdioctylsulfosuccinate, and ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acidv tetra-spdipmsalt, in substantially the proportions (dry basis) 84.4% polyoxyethylenenonyl phenol, 1.2% sulfosuccinate, 14.4% tetra-acetic acid salt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSCrossley Feb. 28, 1939 Steindorfl et a1 Sept. 3, 1940 Bersworth Dec. 24,1946 Lambert Dec. 11, 1951 Jenkens Apr. 17, 1956 10 6 OTHER REFERENCES

4. THE PROCESS OF DISINFECTING A SKIN SURFACE WHICH COMPRISES CONTACTINGTHE SURFACE WITH A DILUTE SOLUTION IN WATER OF AN NON-IONIC DETERGENT OFTHE CALSS OF POLYOXYETHYLENE ALKYL PHENOLS CONTAINING A LIPOPHILIC ALKYLPHENOL HYDROCARBON RADICAL WHEREIN THE ALKYL GROUP CONTAINS FROM 6 TO 12CARBON ATOMS, SAID DETERGENT CONTAINING AT LEAST 6 OXYETHYLENE GROUPSPER LIPOPHILIC ALKYL PHENOL HYDROCARBON RADICAL, AND LIPOPHILICHYDROCARBON AND POLYOXYETHYLENE CHAIN LENGTH BEING BALANCED TO PROVIDEGOOD DETERGENCY, A WETTING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OFSALTS OF ORGANIC SULFATES AND ORGANIC SULFONATES AND A CALCIUM CHELATINGAGENT WHICH IS AN ALKALI METAL SALT OF AN AMINO ECETIC ACID, SAIDDETERGENT, WETTING AGENT AND CHELATING AGENT BEING PRESENT RESPECRIVELYIN THE FOLLOWING PROPORTIONS BY WEIGHT ON A DRY BASIS: 70-90%;0:5-5%;AND 5-15%.